Handle with attaching band for pharmaceutical bottles



w. E. HIDDING 2,982,434

HANDLE WITH ATTACHING BAND FOR PHARMACEUTICAL BOTTLES May 2, 1961 Filed March 4, 1957 HANDLE WITH ATTACHING BAND FOR PHARMACEUTICAL BOTTLES Walter E. Hidding, 505 Banbury Road, Arlington Heights, Ill.

Filed Mar. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 643,578

1 Claim. (Cl. 215-100) This invention relates generally to a carrier device and more specifically to a handle element and means for attaching same to specially formed pharmaceutical bottles for blood plasma and the like.

Heretofore, it has been the practice to make these handle elements and their attaching means as an assembly out of round wire and sheet material respectively, accomplishing the mounting of the latter by overlapping the two free ends and by bending or twisting accomplishing their engagement. The applicant has felt for some time that such devices have inherent weaknesses, in that a sheet metal band with free ends which must be twisted, or in some way deformed, to accomplish their engagement leaves exposed edges to cut the bands of the user. Further, since these handle devices present the means for mounting the bottle as its contents are fed to a patient it is very necessary that it provide foolproof means for accomplishing this. The aforementioned devices are not positive in this regard and depend on the knowledge and care of the person mounting and fastening the band.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a very simple and novel handle means with an attaching band made of plastic, or material having a similar characteristic wherein the inherent resilience of the material will permit its being mounted out of a pharmaceutical bottle in a positive and fool proof manner, thereby eliminating the necessity of the user having to make fastening connetcions of free ends of a strap.

It is still another object of the invention to provide the users of this device with a plastic handle, either integral with the band, or separate, as desired. The invention contemplates storing of the handle in a new manner to facilitate shipping and can even be used as a bumper and guard device during shipment of pharmaceutical bottles adjacently positioned. When desired, the handles heretofore mentioned'can be made with a molded loop portion in it to assure mounting of the bottle properly relative to the stand from which it hangs during use.

Still another object of the invention contemplates a new method of manufacture of the handle and attaching means which will here be described as an extrusion method and will be taken up more fully later.

A further object of the invention is the form of structure later fully described which consists of an attaching band capable of being molded for use with different size bottles, the attaching band being molded with one or more loops so that with a pair of scissors the band may be enlarged for use with bottles having a larger diameter.

These and other objects of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by a study of the draw ings description which follows the invention wherein like numerals have been used to describe the various embodiments of the invention, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my handle and attaching band shown mounted on a pharmaceutical bottle;

Fig. 2 shows one novel method by which the structure contemplated herein can be made;

Fig. 3 shows still another form of the invention in plan view;

" Fig. 4 shows still another modification of the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a form of the invention with' a handle molded integral at one of its ends;

Fig. 6 shows on side view a two piece form of the invention. 7

One form of the invention is shown in Fig. 1 wherein a handle 10 is shown molded integral with an attaching band 12 of proper size, which of course means having a diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the bottle but of a daimeter adapted to firmly seat itself in the groove 14 of the complementary bottle 16. The particular form shown in Fig. 1 has been produced by me of polyethylene material, but, of course, can be made from any number of elastic, plastic-like materials. It is most important in molding this device that a close measurement be maintained on the upper edge or lip of the attaching band to assure positive engagement with the bottle groove 14. Since the material is elastic the best procedure is to mold the attaching band undersize relative to the bottle groove measurement.

Another form of the invention shown in Fig. 5 consists of molding the attaching band 12a and handle 10a integral, but having only one endof the handle 10:: attached. In molding operations the tooling for such a part can be made less expensively thus assuring a more economical product. Further, the free end of handle 10a may have a series of enlargements 11a molded along 'its length so that a handle of desirable length may be assured the user. The ear portion 13a projecting from attaching band 10a may be of a variety of designs but for the purpose of disclosure I have shown an enlargement protruding beyond the perifery of the band with a hole 15a of such a size as to permit passage in compressed condition of the enlargements 11a therethrough and thereafter trapping the enlargement to provide a handle.

As previously mentioned, I propose that one method of making these handle devices economically is by extrusion molding as shown'in Fig. 2. The design of the handle 10b molded in encircling relation to the band 12b is ideal and permits of relatively simple tooling for large quantity production. As the extruded form comes from the machine and is cooled, the roll is cut, in similar fashion to a loaf of bread, each cut-off section providing one of my novel handle and attaching band elements. It should be noted that the handle 10b can be attached to the band 1215 by a web 20b, which web can be severed by cutting or tearing at the time of its use on a bottle. This feature is similar to the saddle element 20 shown in Fig. l which is intended to hold handle 10 in depressed position for shipment of bands, whether as articles of manufacture, or in mounted position on pharmaceutical bottles.

Still another form of the invention consists of a handle element as shown in Fig. 6 wherein the handle is molded separately from the resilient, elastic band 12c. This might be desirable in situations where the band were made of a thickness greater than the depth of the bottle groove so as to use the bands as shock absorbers during shipment. The handles 10c could be thrown into the shipping container and assembled at the point of use. Also, handles of diflierent colors could be provided so that when used with different bottle contents they would help in the identification of bottle contents where labels are lost or partially destroyed thereby making identification difiicult. In connection with handles, I am proposing that the handle in any of the embodiments contemplated can be made with a loop portion 22 which I have shown in Fig. 4. This assures proper hanging of the bottle so that it is always in upright position relative'to the bracket (not shown) whenh anging by the handle. Further, the loop can be made of such hole size that a frictional fit with thebracket arm (not shown) on which it is mounted may be maintained, assuring positive mounting of the bottle on the stand-during movement of the mounting stand. A further feature of the device shown in Fig. 4 is the provision of a plurality of notches or cutouts 24d in the bottom margin of the band 12d to facilitate mounting of the band on a bottle, the cutouts facilitating the metal feeding of the band over the bottom of the bottle, yet not affecting its holding ability.

Lastly, in Fig. 3 I have shown still another embodiment of my handle 10:; and attaching band He, the latter being provided with a loop portion 26e. Its sole purpose is to permit the user to apply the band to two ened by moisture, tearing, etc., or where it becomes unreadable. Obviously, where the handle is a separate element, as shown in Fig. 6, the handle itself can be used as an identifier by its color, design, etc.

What I claim is:

A handle device for pharmaceutical bottles including a continuous band of resilient material of uniform thickness presenting a surfaceadapted to embracingly engage the grooved wall provided on a bottle of predetermined diametrical measurement, means including a loop of band material extending radially outwardly from said continuous band so that when the aforementioned continuous band is severed adjacent said loop a continuous band of greater diameter than the original band is presented to fit a bottle of greater diametrical measurement than said first bottle, and handle means attached to and extending from opposed portions of said band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,547,488 Atkinson July 28, 1925 1,711,536 Levien May 7, 1929 2,037,489 Skinner Apr. 14, 1936 2,051,940 Chichester-Miles Aug. 25, 1936 2,451,986 Slaughter Oct. 19, 1948 2,455,509 Luac'es Dec. 7, 1948 2,738,114 Kahlan et a1 Mar. 13, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 200,456 Great Britain July 12, 1923 

